Teamwork or individual dogs

[jcathunter]

The running dog thread kind of peaked my interest as to what most folks prefer running. Do you all prefer to hunt one or a couple dogs that are complete dogs or do you prefer to hunt a team that includes dogs that may be strong in some areas and weaker in others but filling each others gaps? There is no wrong answer because I'm asking about personal preference. Myself, I think the team is more effective at putting more fur on the stretcher but I still prefer to have one or two dogs that can do it alone even though they would catch less cats. No need for this to turn into an argument because I'm just curious what people prefer for their own enjoyment.

[Grizzhound12]

I like the team. It's a lot of fun watching a bunch of hounds working together to get the critter caught.

[Snow walker]

I like it both ways. If I can get the job done with one dog that's how I'll hunt and save the other dog for the next run.. For me it really boils down to how big of a area I'll be hunting at the time and if more than one target is involved..

[Dan McDonough]

I hunt the Northern 1-3 dog style as most know. I like the individual work with the dogs and I hunt as part of the pack. I don't miss to many cats and I like busting the brush with the dogs. There are places here that I can't go into with the dogs but not that many.

A portion of this may come down to the preference between rifle and shotguns. More is left to the shooter when shooting rifles than with shotguns and I can see some of the same preferences between people that choose the style of hound hunting they will do for cats. I'm sure it has more to do with what you learned when you started, but I do think the rifle/shotgun analogy plays a big factor for some people.

Thinking more about it, I seem to like having a couple of good friends as opposed to having a large group of friends. I like shooting a rifle even when the situation calls for a shotgun. I chose gymnastics and diving over baseball and basketball. The list goes on...I think that going in with 1-3 dogs by myself or with one other friend suits me more and is in line with the way I've lead the rest of my life. I like to see what I can do as opposed to what we can do.

[jcathunter]

That all makes perfect sense to me, Dan. You summed it up very well for me. (but I love baseball) That being said, watching 3 top dogs that can do it all alone, come together and work as a team can me a thing of beauty. I just want to know that none of them need the other for any part of the race but, together, they are even better. Hopefully that makes sense because I confused myself as I retyped it for the third time. lol

[1bludawg]

I enjoy hunting 1 dog at least until they prove they can do it all alone.Then i start working another one .I don't keep one that isn't balanced.Looking back over the years i've had my best luck hunting two dogs.I just seem to catch more cat with fewer problems.When i was a kid years and years and years ago i remember Don Pankey and Sid Roper catching lots and lots of cats with one dog apiece. Don had a Renick walker and Sid had a half running walker ,half treeing walker.Both dogs were cat treeing machines.I figured if they could do it ,i could.My grade dogs are mostly Bluetick now but i can trace them back to ole Sport and Bell.Don and Sid were out of Roseburg ,Oregon .

[oconee]

I think this is where I got lost on the running dog post. I just can't get past the fact that anyone would add a dog to any pack that wasn't a well rounded and balanced hound. They don't have to be a superstar but I just can't feed Ol' Jo Jo just because he's got a cold nose or can push a track fast. Anyway its safe to say I'm a balanced hound small pack kind of guy. I also can't get past having a truck load of dogs on the ground. That kills me, I was watching a cat hunting video one time and I bet they had 20 dogs on the ground. From what I hear and read it sounds like that might be pretty normal in the cat hunting world. A guy will have a hard time getting me to believe he's has great dogs when he has 8-15 dogs loose on his caught game. Its my opinion that 4 GOOD BALANCED dogs should catch as much as 8 me-too dogs.

[coastrangecathunting]

I have done it both ways. And both are successful in the area I hunt. I have to say I would rather hear 10 dogs screaming on a jumped critter than 1 or 2. They all don't locate but they all tree. I don't use a lease and can call them off a tree when they can see the critter . So its not a head ache to me, if something happens to a dog or 2 im fine I have 14 more to catch game. if I had 3 dogs and something happened to 1 or 2 I would be hunting a dog or 2 . I love a screaming race but I don't like a dog that barks a lot. so I guess that's why I have tight mouth dogs and lots of them . lol

jc

[southern fox]

the way I hunt right now I have 9 broke dogs, some being 4 and 5 years old to some being a year and a half, I hunt a lot by myself and hunting 3 sometimes 4 nights a week, everything I hunt is a running registered running walker foxhound, I hunt for the chase, the music of it and the excitement ! I have often said a man that's never heard a cat race the last 20 mins have never heard the full potential of a pack of running walker hounds , the difference between the way I hunt and the tree guys is I don't shoot anything just run the crap out of it, if they cant catch it on the ground, to bad , I train all my stuff I haven't bought a dog in many many years, and always lookin and trying to breed the perfect 1 but its never happened, lots of fair hounds , and hounds u can hunt with but never a good 1 all will be dogs one time or another

[al baldwin]

Must say much prefer to hunt with a pack. Number of dogs depends how vocal & how much volume to their voice. Had walker female named sister, her voice was such I enjoyed listening to her run alone. Three dogs with a voice like hers would really make a canyon ring, actually alone she made a canyon ring, tighter she got on a critter the more excited her voice became. I would rather hear a good track & trail job, where the dogs make it enjoyable, than to catch a quick popup. Even if the critter eventually escapes, prefer that over a treed popup. Just figure if the hounds gave it their best & got beat. Critter is there to enjoy another day. Hunting one dog is just not that enjoyable for me, but don/t hunt enough to keep my own pack. But to each his own. Al

[jcathunter]

Its pretty interesting to hear the different opinions. I prefer a dog telling me about the race like he's telling me a story and, with a lot of dogs, its just to easy to lose the details, so to speak. I do, however, love the sound of several dogs jumped in the bottom of a canyon. Well, until one of my young dogs sounds off across the way from them on their own little trash race.

[mark]

This is not intended to come off derogatory or smart assy. Over the years i have been amazed by guys that have hunted dogs for a lot of years and still cant tell you whats going on in a race. They dont know for sure when the game is jumped, they couldn't tell tell you what their dogs locate bark sounds like or if the dog is looking at game. That being said i have hunted solo dogs and up to 10 of my own at a time. When my son and i get together on a race we can have up to 14-15 dogs in there. When we run together i concentrate on his dogs to see how mine compare to his. Its takes some concentration but i can tune into certain dogs and just concentrate on what they are doing. I am blessed to hunt country that you can hear a high percentage of the races from one spot. When i am able to hunt hard i pick different dogs in my pack each race. To listen to.With the garmins on 2.5 second updates you can back up what you are hearing. I get the impression that some guys think we just start throwing dogs together to make a pack so we can catch a cat. Every dog i hunt has come up through the ranks except for one as puppys. I get to see the cats and dogs cross enough roads that i can weed the me too ers out real easy, the dogs better be hittn the road in first place regularly or they dont stay. Also i need to hear them picking up loses on a regular basis. Every "locate" tree dog i haver owned has had a distinct bark that tells me it is locating. Its not very tough to break dogs and a race down to see and hear what individuals are doing if you hunt enough and pay attention. Think of it like an orchestra, do really think the conductor just hears 2 or 3 of the instruments? The kid and i and a friend of his ran a hard running cat this morning for 20-30 minutes with 14 dogs, i cant explain the sound but anybody that could of heard it and not appreciated what they were hearing couldnt of had a heart beat. Just the way i like to run cats!....... And no i dont piss excellence in the morning

[slowandeasy]

And if you are trying to learn this game ( PUT PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TOGETHER ). Reread Marks post. Then reread as often as necessary to understand the steps. And all the steps were doable BG ( Before Garmin ) So even if your ear isn't up to par, in todays age it is still doable.


Take care, Willie

[jcathunter]

I piss mediocrity. lol I think your orchestra comment is spot on, Mark. Unfortunately, my ears are pretty poor so, after 4-5 dogs, it all blends together for me. I guess it'd be similar to a conductor, like you said. Some folks can just hear the music differently. I can pick my dogs in a race but, sounds will run together for me if its too "busy" and its similar with people talking to me in a public place, as well. The locate bark you mentioned is my absolute favorite part of any race. I'd also add that I think having that many dogs in a race and all of them working together is darned impressive and it has to be a thing of beauty. Honestly, if I had that many dogs that would work together well, I may very well rethink my preferences. I have to admit that I don't know that I would have the ability to keep that many steered in the right direction.
You guys that are running larger packs should post videos or audio clips of the races if possible.

[slowandeasy]

Quote Mark : Its takes some concentration but i can tune into certain dogs and just concentrate on what they are doing.


For those that just think selective hearing is just something wife's have dreamed up. It is alive and needs to be well in the hound world.



Take care, Willie